It was Carwin that again intruded, and who stood before
me, erect in attitude and steadfast in look!
The sight of him awakened new and rapid thoughts. His recent tale
was remembered; his magical transitions and mysterious energy of
voice. Whether he were infernal or miraculous or human, there was
no power and no need to decide. Whether the contriver or not of
this spell, he was able to unbind it, and to check the fury of my
brother. He had ascribed to himself intentions not malignant.
Here now was afforded a test of his truth. Let him interpose, as
from above; revoke the savage decree which the madness of Wieland
has assigned to heaven, and extinguish forever this passion for
blood!
My mind detected at a glance this avenue to safety. The
recommendations it possessed thronged as it were together, and made
but one impression on my intellect. Remoter effects and collateral
dangers I saw not. Perhaps the pause of an instant had sufficed to
call them up. The improbability that the influence which governed
Wieland was external or human; the tendency of this stratagem to
sanction so fatal an error or substitute a more destructive rage in
place of this; the insufficiency of Carwin's mere muscular forces
to counteract the efforts and restrain the fury of Wieland, might,
at a second glance, have been discovered; but no second glance was
allowed.
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